Fence post having means to receive cross members



R. B. WEIMER Aug. 9, 1955 FENCE POST HAVING MEANS TO RECEIVE CROSS MEMBERS Filed Jan. 27, 1953 INVEN TOR. fichardfiwezme United States Patent FENCE POST HAVING MEANS TO RECEIVE CROSS MEMBERS Richard B. Weimer, Batavia, Ill.

Application January 27, .1953, Serial No. 333,453

7 Claims. (Cl. 256-65) This invention relates to fence structures and more particularly to a fence post and structure permitting the fence to take any direction from the post and also a plurality of fences to come into a common post.

Horizontal rail fences haveoften been constructed with spaced apart boards, pipes and other structural shapes. It is common practice to support the-ends of such boards by nailing them to wooden fence posts and also to merely support them in one manner or another on a post having some means to clamp and support the ends of the rail.

The present invention uses a cylindrical element as the basic structure of the post with members secured to it in such a manner that the ends of the fence pipe rails, boards and the like may be secured to the post without encumbering fasteners. The post structure is such that any member from one to several fence lines may be brought into the single post and secured to it. The post may be placed in the ground without any particular prearranged angular relation to the proposed fence lines.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved fence post structure capable of receiving a frame from various angles without the necessity for initially placing the post with any particular angular relation to the fences.

A further object is the provision of a fence post structure that may receive a varying number of fences radiating from the post...

A further object is the provision of a post structure which may hold fence members without cumbersome securing means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a post and fence structure adapted to'hold metallic or timber fence rails.

Particular embodimentsof thejpresent invention'are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective'view of a fence'post of this invention showing three fences radiating from the ost; p Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken perspective view of the channel member forming a part of the post structure;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken vertical elevational view, partly in section, of apost structure including the invention herein;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the post structure of Fig. 3 taken substantially along line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged broken vertical sectional view through a modified form of post structure; and

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the poststructureillustrated in Fig. 5.

While I have shown and will hereinafter describe certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangements may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and-scope of .t'heinvention as disclosed in the appended claims.

Arpost structure of this invention may be seen generally from Fig. '1 wherein a pipe 10 comprises the basic structure of the post and is intended tobe embedded in the ground in the manner of a usual fence post. The post illustrated has three lines of fences radiating therefrom. One fence 11 is generally in line with another fence 12 with athird fence 13 leading away from the post at an angle to the other two. Individual boards 14 of the fences have their end portions secured to the post structure. These ends are held in place by channel structures 15, one being provided for each of the fences.

The particular structure of fence post is illustrated in two embodiments differing only in particular structure of the securing means for holding the channel members on the pipe 10. In Fig. 3 a cast metal collar 16 is shown as secured to the lower exposed portion of the pipe 10 by means of set screws 17. This collar has an outwardly radially extending flange portion 18 presenting a flat upper surface 19. This surface is annular and of generally the same cross section all around the post. The flange 18 is terminated on its inner periphery by a vertically extending wall 20 forming with the pipe 10 an annular groove 21. This groove is intended to cooperate with a similar groove at the upper end of the post to hold the channel members 15.

The top of the post is generally provided with a closure cap 22 also made of cast metal. Set screws 23 may be used to fasten the cap to the post. An integral outwardly extending flange portion 24 provides a downwardly facing flat annular surface 25 in a manner similar to the flat surface 19 of the collar 16. This surface is terminated by a vertical wall 26 spaced from the pipe 1% in order to form therewith the annular groove 27 which is opposed to the groove 21 in the collar. The cap is limited as to its position on the post; however, the collar may be moved vertically therealong as will be apparent.

The channel members for holding the fence members to the post are formed as illustrated in Fig. 2. Legs, or sides, 30 are joined by an integral bottom portion 31 which is generally arcuate in shape as may be seen in Fig. 4. The curve of the base is selected so as to fit generally against the outer periphery of the post 10. The sides '30 extend generally over the length of the channel member and the base is extended beyond the sides to form ears 32. These ears are intended to repose in the respective grooves 21 and 27 formed by the collar and cap with the post 10. The channel members are generally of a size to permit several to be positioned about the post. In Fig. 4 three such channel members 15 are indicated in full lines and the position of a fourth is shown in dotted outline.

It will be noted that the post 10 the ground after which the collar and cap may be placed on the post to secure the channel members thereto, and these channel members may be moved about the circumference of the post to any desired position. The placing of the post 10 in the ground is thus entirely independent of the direction that the fence will take from the post.

An alternate form of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. 'The only change is in the form of the collar and cap. A similar collar 46 may be formed by stamping or pressing the collar from sheet material. An outwardly extending flange 44; is formed in the same manner as the flange 18 on the cast collar and the groove 51 corresponds to the groove 21 in the cast collar. This flange may be welded as at 47 to the post 10.

The cap 52 in the alternate embodiment may be also stamped or pressed from sheet material. The outwardly extending flange 54 corresponds with the flange 24 of the cast cap and the groove 57 is formed in a manner similar to the groove 27. A disc or strip of metal 53 may be supported inside the cap and expanded against the pipe by drawing the same toward the cap by a screw member 56 to secure the cap tightly to the pipe 10. In this construction the channel members 15 are the same as previously described and are attached to the pipe by may be placed in the integral cars 32 reposing in the opposed grooves of the cap and collar.

Two forms of fence structure are shown as connected to the fence post of this invention. In Figs; 3 and 4 boards 14 areshown with their end portions reposing in the channel members with a wooden spacer 34 placed between the boards and within the channel members. These spacers may simply be toenailed to the other boards to hold them in place.

The second form of fence is shown as utilizing tubular fence rails 35 which are provided with an end T-shaped bar 36. One leg 37 of the bar extends outwardly therefrom and may be received in the channel member by providing a filler block 38 on either side of the leg 37. This block 38 may be wedged in place or be secured to the leg 37 of the bar. A number of pipe rails 35 may be secured as by welding to the T-bar '36 and this unit may be dropped into position in the channel-shaped members on a pair of posts. Filler blocks 38 will keep the T-bars centered in the channels and they may be dispensed with if desired. Other fence rail members may be used in the manner of the boards and tubular fence rails illustrated. When using the T-bar, any number of tubular rails may be welded thereto as desired.

In either construction of fence it is believed obvious that the channel members along with the flanges of the collar and cap form a box-like receptacle for holding the end portions of the fence rails. The posts are spaced apart a distance to accommodate the rails so that longitudinal play or movement thereof will not permit the end portions to move outwardly beyond the edges of the box-like receptacle.

I claim: or

1. A fence post structure, comprising: a cylindrical member having a lower portion to be embedded in the ground and an upper portion extending above ground at least to the level of the proposed fence; a lower collar about the cylindrical member forming therewith an annular upwardly open groove, said lower collar having a radially extending outer flange above said groove; an upper cap secured over the top portion of the cylindrical member forming therewith an annular downwardly open groove, said upper cap having a radially extending outer flange below said groove; a channel-shaped member having an arcuate base to repose against said cylindrical member and legs integral with the base extending outwardly of the base, said base extending longitudinally beyond each end of said legs forming ears receivable respectively in said grooves to anchor the channel-shaped member to said cylindrical member in any selected position circumferentially about the post structure, said channel-shaped member and said outwardly extending flanges on said collar and cap being adapted to receive the end portions of generally horizontally extending fence forming members.

2. A fence post structure, comprising: a pipe-like member adapted to have one end embedded in the ground in the manner of a usual fence post; a collar about the lower exposed portion of the pipe-like member forming therewith an annular upwardly open groove; a cap on the pipe-like member forming therewith an annular downwardly open groove; a plurality of channel members each having arcuate cars at its ends for extending respectively into said grooves to anchor the respective channel members to the pipe-like member in any selected position circumferentially about the post, the legs of said channel member extending outwardly of the pipe-like member to receive and hold the ends of fence forming members.

3. A fence post structure, comprising: a cylindrical member for placement in the ground in the manner of a usual fence post; a pair of collars secured in spaced relationship on the cylindrical member, said collars forming with the cylindrical member a pair of opposed annular grooves; a fence holding channel member having ears at its upper and lower ends reposing in said opposed grooves to hold the channel member to the cylindrical 4 member; and means for locking the fence holding channel member in any selected position circumferentially of the cylindrical member.

4. A fence post structure, comprising: a pipe member for placement in the ground in the manner of a usual fence post; an annular collar having screw means for locking it to the pipe member, said collar having an outwardly extending flat flange portion and forming an annular upwardly open groove about the pipe member; a cap having screw means for locking it on the top of said pipe member, said cap having an outwardly extending flat flange portion and forming a downwardly open annular groove about the pipe member; a channel member having outwardly extending legs for receiving fence members and a base portion adapted to repose along the pipe member; and integral ears on said channel base portion extending into said grooves to hold the channel member in any selected position about the circumference of said pipe member, the flanges of said collar and'cap being adapted to retain fence members within the legs of said channel members.

5. A fence post structure, comprising: a pipe member for placement in the ground in the manner of a usual fence post; a pressed metal collar welded to the lower exposed portion of the pipe member and forming therewith an upwardly open annular groove; a pressed metal cap on top of the pipe member and having a flange portion forming therewith an annular downwardly open groove; locking means for securing the cap on the pipe member; a channel member having outwardly extending legs for receiving fence members and a base portion between the legs reposing along the pipe member; and integral ears on said base portion extending into said grooves to hold the channel member in any selected position about the circumference of the pipe member.

6; A fence post and structure, comprising: a pipe member for placement in the ground in the manner of a usual fence post; a pair of collars secured in spaced relationship to the pipe member, said collars forming a pair of opposed annular grooves about the pipe member and having outwardly extending annular flanges; a channel member extending along the pipe member and having ear portions reposing in said opposed grooves to anchor the channel member to the pipe member, said channel member and said flanges forming a box-like receptacle for receiving the end portions of fence boards; a plurality of spaced, generally horizontal fence boards having their end portions reposing in said box-like receptacle and spacers between said end portions to hold the fence boards in spaced relationship.

7. A fence post and structure, comprising: a pipe-like member for placement in the ground in the manner of a usualfence post; a collar about the lower portion of the pipe-like member and having an outwardly extending flange; a cap over the top or" said pipe-like member, said collar and cap forming with said pipe-like member; a pair of opposed annular grooves; a channel member having base extensions at its ends for entry into said grooves to anchor the channel member to the pipe-like member with the legs of the channel extending outwardly along the pipe-like member; means for locking the channel member in any selected position circumferentially of thc pipe-like member; tubular fence rails each having .a bar fixed to its ends, said bar having at least one leg extending outwardly of the rail for placement between the sides of the channel member to hold the rails in position relative to the post.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 154,776 Warren Sept. 8, 1874 210,757 Davis et a1. Dec. 10, 1878 354,303 Case Dec. 14, 1886 1,070,165 Newlin Aug. 12, 1913 1,215,356 Emerick Feb. 13, 1917 

